The Dallas Mavericks just have not been able to keep in what seems like the longest season. It has gone clearly downhill. Guard Danté Exum has spent the entire season so far on the injury list, 16 games and not one appearance. The frustration is palpable for a club hoping to rebound. And even that bit of hope was gone. 

As Michael Scotto reported on X, “JUST IN: Dallas Mavericks guard Danté Exum will miss the remainder of the season. Exum has continued to deal with complications from a right knee procedure in the offseason, and it has been determined that a follow-up surgery will be necessary.” With his probable return ruled out completely, the Mavs lose yet another guard option just when they needed depth most. But what they do now is going to determine the rest of the already troubled season. 

One would think that the Mavericks would make the obvious roster move after Exum’s injury update and try to trade him. But, thanks to the old strategies of former GM Nico Harrison, things do not play out so cleanly. As reported by ESPN’s Bobby Marks on X, the void left by Exum’s absence is not easy to patch, “Exum signed a one-year, $3.3M contract in the offseason, putting Dallas in a tricky cap situation- they already have 15 players on roster and would need to waive Exum just to create a roster spot.”

However, that move is not as straightforward. Because Dallas is hard-capped at the second apron. And the team is not allowed to sign any replacement player until January 6. Complicating matters further, the 10-day contract window opens on January 5, leaving them in a tight bind.

(This is a developing story…)